Petunia plant named &#39;PEHY0026&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant named ‘PEHY0026’ particularly distinguished by its medium sized, red flowers, mid early flowering and a semi-trailing plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Petuniahybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEHY0026’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Petunia, botanically known asPetunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name‘PEHY0026’.

‘PEHY0026’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivarhas medium sized, red flowers, mid early flowering and a semi-trailingplant habit.

‘PEHY0026’ originated from a hybridization made in October 2011 in acontrolled breeding environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. Thefemale parent was the proprietory line ‘N0187-1’ that has a comparableplant habit and vigor, is earlier, and has a less intense red flowercolor.

The male parent of ‘PEHY0026’ was the unpatented proprietary line‘P0127’, a plant with comparable plant habit and vigor, later floweringand a less intensive flower color.

The resulting seeds were sown in January 2012. ‘PEHY0026’ was selectedas one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May,2012 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEHY0026’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inJune 2012 in a controlled environment in Angers, France.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in June 2012 and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEHY0026’are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

‘PEHY0026’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in theEuropean Union on Oct. 31, 2016, No. 2016/2642. ‘PEHY0026’ has not beenmade publicly available prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application bythe inventor or another who obtained ‘PEHY0026’ directly from theinventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Petunia as a new and distinctvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘PEHY0026’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows in FIG. 1.a flowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2. a close-up of theflowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs were taken in September 2016 from plantsgrowing outside in Andijk, The Netherlands. These plants wereapproximately 22 weeks of age.

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in October 2016 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands on 15 week old plants that were growing in fullsoil.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEHY0026’ AND A SIMILARVARIETY ‘PEHY0012’ (U.S. Pat. PEHY0026’ Pat. No. PP28159) Plant habit:Semi-trailing Semi-upright Flower color: Deeper red color Red Leafshape: Wider than ovate Elliptic

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Semi-trailing plant habit.        -   Plant height.—12 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—14 cm.        -   Plant diameter (width).—35 cm.-   Roots:    -   -   Number of days to initiate and produce roots.—16 days at            about 22 degrees C.        -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.        -   Color.—RHS N158D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sometimes opposite,            decussate.        -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 146B.        -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 146A.        -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137A.        -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 146A.        -   Length.—4 cm.        -   Width.—2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Base shape.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Densely covered with short hair.        -   Lower surface.—Densely covered with short hairs.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144C.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144C.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 144C.        -   Length.—0.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Petiole texture.—densely covered with short hairs.-   Stem:    -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—4-5.        -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of stem.—20-25 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—0.1-3 cm.        -   Texture.—Dense, mostly glandular short hairs.        -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of pedicel.—1.5-3.0 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture of pedicel.—Densely covered with short hairs.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Flowers solitary in upper leaf axis.        -   Floret type.—Funnel-shaped; 5 lobed petals; fused at the            base.        -   Blooming habit.—Rather late flowering in greenhouse,            flowering throughout the summer months.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 15.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 7 days.        -   Fragrance.—Rather strong smell.-   Bud (just when opening):    -   -   Color.—RHS N79A.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.-   Immature inflorescence:    -   -   Flower horizontal diameter.—5 cm.        -   Color petals, upper surface.—RHS 45A with veins RHS 53A.        -   Color petals, lower surface.—RHS 54C with veins RHS 79D.-   Mature flower:    -   -   Flower horizontal diameter.—6 cm.        -   Flower height (vertical).—4.5 cm.        -   Color upper surface.—RHS 45A with veins RHS 53A.        -   Color lower surface.—RHS 54C with veins RHS 79D.        -   All petals.—        -   Apex shape.—Rounded to slightly Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Waviness of margin.—Medium.        -   Petal lobation.—Little.        -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose, glabrous.        -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Some glandular hairs, more            dense on veins.        -   Corolla tube color outside.—RHS 79A.        -   Corolla tube color inside.—Longitudinal striped; RHS 53A and            RHS 158D at base some RHS 157B coloration.        -   Corolla tube length.—3 cm.        -   Corolla tube texture, outside.—Rather dense and short            glandular hairs.        -   Corolla tube texture, inside.—Glabrous.-   Calyx:    -   -   Color of sepal, upper surface.—RHS 146A.        -   Color of sepal, lower surface.—RHS 146B.        -   Length.—1.7 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Ensiform.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Densely covered with short glandular            hairs.        -   Lower surface.—Densely covered with short glandular hairs.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—1.        -   Length.—2.3 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 145C.        -   Style length.—1.5 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 145A.        -   Stamens.—        -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS 157C.        -   Length filaments.—2 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 159C.        -   Anther length.—0.15 cm.        -   Anther shape.—Elliptical.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 159D.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed on this hybrid.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been observed on this            hybrid.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named‘PEHY0026’ substantially as illustrated and described herein.